PLans to turn a former drug rehabilitation centre into student accommodation have been given the green light.
Councillors on Preston Council’s planning committee yesterday approved proposals to extend Appleby House on Appleby Street into a four storey student accommodation block.
The site, which used to be used by the Preston Community Drug Team, is between an existing eight storey student accommodation complex and a three storey 1960s residential block to the north.
Two existing extensions of the existing single storey building will be demolished.
The majority of the footprint of the building would remain as existing, with the bulk of the development taking place above ground floor level.
The plan, submitted by Sargar Development, is to form a continuous roof which would slope down towards the residential block to the north of Appleby House and would be the main feature of the building. The accommodation block will have two parking spaces, that will be restricted to drop off and collection spaces.
Planning committee chairman Brian Rollo said: “It is a nice development.
“It is within the university precinct and that area of Moor Lane.
“We are fairly happy with it.”
Coun Rollo said there were some concerns raised at the planning meeting about students bringing cars.
However Coun Rollo said once the students realise there is no room to park they won’t bring their cars again.
There were no objections to the scheme.
However the University of Central Lancashire said there are numerous accommodation schemes with existing planning approval, which may at some point produces a ‘surplus of supply.’
Adding “It is currently considered that all the approved schemes will not be required.”
But the report before councillors said: “This is not the case at the moment and it is reasonable to expect that not all approved developments will be brought forward.”
Conditions to the planning application include: providing cycling provision before the first occupation, restricting the occupation to student use only and a scheme of security measures.
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